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See from what I understand the type and thickness of the gravel base that will be installed under the blacktop is the most important thing. What I believe you are seeing is the mixture of larger stone which makes up the top surface. You can make it pretty but it doesnt mean its stronger. Also it is actual best to seal months later and let the drive cure.

See from what I understand the type and thickness of the gravel base that will be installed under the blacktop is the most important thing. What I believe you are seeing is the mixture of larger stone which makes up the top surface. You can make it pretty but it doesnt mean its stronger. Also it is actual best to seal months later and let the drive cure.

No, they have not put or as far as I know plan to put a sealer on it.

The have put a single 3 inch layer of "HL3a" asphalt and that's all they are doing. A bunch of driveways in my area have been getting re-done lately and they all look a heck of a lot better than mine.

I understand about letting it sit for a while before sealing, but some of the gaps in the surface are too large fo a sealer to fill completely.

Never imo should the original base be releveled, it should ALL have been taken up. Remember the base is the most important part and unless completely removed and done again who know what really is there. jmo

So if you are not getting a seal in the spring, they did half the job properly and the top looks bad, what type of savings did you realize over other quotes?

Never imo should the original base be releveled, it should ALL have been taken up. Remember the base is the most important part and unless completely removed and done again who know what really is there. jmo

So if you are not getting a seal in the spring, they did half the job properly and the top looks bad, what type of savings did you realize over other quotes?

All three were within $100 of eachother. It was a crap shoot. We went with the guy that we liked the best.

That doesn't look like HL3 to me, looks like they used left over HL8 from another job. It's just as strong but looks bad,, you have every right to complain. It's also possible that they screwed up the compaction, it's hard to tell now that it's said and done. They're from Woodbridge? good luck getting them to fix it.

I hope you didn't pay more then 1500$ for that job >_< my parents 900$ 5 car driveway looked better when we bought a new place in bowmanville. Concrete would look nice because you can add texture and not to mention it would last forever.

Many of the driveways are done like the roads - 2 step. Course and strong base with a finer sand based top coat. The draw back with a sand finish is that it's more suspectable to small puncture marks such as kick stands, tire marks etc. If the contractor did the complete job in one step they're basically savinig money since they lay it down and move on. Sealing is to be done by yourself or a third party after the first year preferably after the first frost. Oils will continue to rise and weep at the surface for the first year. Hope they dug down at least a foot and compacted the base hard so you don't experience any settling afterwards.